Garner needed a nap. Tiredness was making him distraught. I’d tried all the usual stuff—singing, rocking, walking around, gas medicine—and nothing was working. I knew the best thing was to put him to bed and let him cry until he fell asleep. I laid him down and sat in the chair nearby. I watched to make sure he was okay and listened in case his crying escalated. In three or four minutes, he was out. I stayed a little longer watching and listening as he took the slow, even breaths of sleep. He didn’t know I was there. As far as he knew, he was alone.
It wasn’t a far leap for me to think of our Father in heaven. When we go through trials, we often feel like we’re alone. We wonder why this (insert crisis here) is happening to us. God, it seems, is nowhere to be found. But like in the situation with my baby, God knows what is best for us. He knows what we need even if it seems painful, and he is always watching and listening—standing by our side to make sure we are okay.
“Though they {the Godly}stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Ps 37:24
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Fruit of the Spirit-- Joy (devotion)
Joy is mentioned all through the Bible. We are told to sing with joy, shout with joy, to be joyful. When we’re saved, we’re given the impression that all our problems will be solved. Psalm 30 is often quoted, “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.”
Well, I’ll tell you, there are plenty of times I don’t feel like dancing. There are plenty of times that I’m still mourning. I look at all the suffering in the world, among my friends, in my own family, and wonder, “How am I supposed to have joy right now?”
When I examine the scriptures about joy I find a common thread—the Lord. Whether they are referring to Him, His Word, or His acts, joy is linked to God over and over again. Here are a few verses:
“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!” Is 61:10.
“When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.” Jer 15:16
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” Phil 4:4
“Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.” Rom 4:8
The secret of having joy is to keep our eyes heavenward. When we look around at our circumstances, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and depressed. However, we need to remember that our current situation is temporary. We have a greater promise and hope in the future through Jesus Christ.
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Rom 5:3-5
How do we keep our eyes heavenward? We do that through prayer, studying the Word, singing praise/worship songs, and fellowshipping with other believers. The best example of this is highlighted in Acts chapter 16.
“A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.” Acts 16:22-24
Those are some pretty overwhelming circumstances. Paul and Silas are in pain, in prison, and locked in stocks. If anyone had the right to be depressed, it was the two of them. But what does the very next verse say they were doing? Complaining, crying, licking their wounds? No. Their eyes were heavenward.
“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God….” (v 25)
Everyone knows what happened next. An earthquake came. The doors of the prison opened and all the prisoners’ chains fell off. (v 26) The earth literally moved because of their joy. God can do the same for you when you keep your eyes heavenward. There might not be earthquakes, but there could be a resolution to your problems, or the peace that helps you navigate them.
I’ve said before that the Fruit of the Spirit is for reproduction. The Holy Spirit uses our joy regardless of circumstances to reach others. Notice in the story all the doors opened and all the chains fell off—not just Paul’s and Silas’s. The other prisoners were blessed as well. It didn’t stop there. The jailer and his family were saved.
“And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.” (v 32-34)
It’s easy to let our circumstances rob us of our joy. I encourage you to remember that joy is not in the things of this world, but in the hope of our salvation and our relationship with the living God. “I say it again—rejoice!” Phil 4:4
Well, I’ll tell you, there are plenty of times I don’t feel like dancing. There are plenty of times that I’m still mourning. I look at all the suffering in the world, among my friends, in my own family, and wonder, “How am I supposed to have joy right now?”
When I examine the scriptures about joy I find a common thread—the Lord. Whether they are referring to Him, His Word, or His acts, joy is linked to God over and over again. Here are a few verses:
“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!” Is 61:10.
“When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.” Jer 15:16
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” Phil 4:4
“Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.” Rom 4:8
The secret of having joy is to keep our eyes heavenward. When we look around at our circumstances, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and depressed. However, we need to remember that our current situation is temporary. We have a greater promise and hope in the future through Jesus Christ.
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Rom 5:3-5
How do we keep our eyes heavenward? We do that through prayer, studying the Word, singing praise/worship songs, and fellowshipping with other believers. The best example of this is highlighted in Acts chapter 16.
“A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.” Acts 16:22-24
Those are some pretty overwhelming circumstances. Paul and Silas are in pain, in prison, and locked in stocks. If anyone had the right to be depressed, it was the two of them. But what does the very next verse say they were doing? Complaining, crying, licking their wounds? No. Their eyes were heavenward.
“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God….” (v 25)
Everyone knows what happened next. An earthquake came. The doors of the prison opened and all the prisoners’ chains fell off. (v 26) The earth literally moved because of their joy. God can do the same for you when you keep your eyes heavenward. There might not be earthquakes, but there could be a resolution to your problems, or the peace that helps you navigate them.
I’ve said before that the Fruit of the Spirit is for reproduction. The Holy Spirit uses our joy regardless of circumstances to reach others. Notice in the story all the doors opened and all the chains fell off—not just Paul’s and Silas’s. The other prisoners were blessed as well. It didn’t stop there. The jailer and his family were saved.
“And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.” (v 32-34)
It’s easy to let our circumstances rob us of our joy. I encourage you to remember that joy is not in the things of this world, but in the hope of our salvation and our relationship with the living God. “I say it again—rejoice!” Phil 4:4
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Fruit of the Spirit--Love (devotion)
When I originally looked at the list of the Fruit of the Spirit, I assumed it was random. I assumed there was no particular significance to the order of the attributes listed in in Galatians 6. However, as I've been seeking and praying, I don't think that's the case for the first one. I don't believe it is an accident that "love" is listed at the beginning.
I Cor 13:2 (NIV) says, "...but do not have love, I am nothing." In this section Paul is declaring that he can have the greatest gifts, but without love they are useless. This is certainly true for the Fruit of the Spirit. Without love, how is it possible to have any positive characteristics?
When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, "Love God and love your neighbor." That's my paraphrase anyway. Apply that to the Fruit of the Spirit. If you don't love God, how can you have joy? I Pet 1:8 (NIV) states, "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy..." If you did not love God and desire to please him, how could you have self-control. If you did not love your neighbor, how could you have patience? tenderness? goodness?
Examine your heart. Is love there? If not, there is only one place to find it. The rest of Galatians 5 mentions being led by the spirit, walking by the Spirit, living by the Spirit, and keeping in step with the Spirit. It's pretty clear that we need the Spirit! How do you "walk with the Spirit?" When our minds are on the Lord, we are walking with the Spirit. Whether it's prayer, meditating on the Word, talking to a Christian friend, or listening to a good song, find a way to walk with the Spirit and you will find yourself overflowing with love.
I Cor 13:2 (NIV) says, "...but do not have love, I am nothing." In this section Paul is declaring that he can have the greatest gifts, but without love they are useless. This is certainly true for the Fruit of the Spirit. Without love, how is it possible to have any positive characteristics?
When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, "Love God and love your neighbor." That's my paraphrase anyway. Apply that to the Fruit of the Spirit. If you don't love God, how can you have joy? I Pet 1:8 (NIV) states, "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy..." If you did not love God and desire to please him, how could you have self-control. If you did not love your neighbor, how could you have patience? tenderness? goodness?
Examine your heart. Is love there? If not, there is only one place to find it. The rest of Galatians 5 mentions being led by the spirit, walking by the Spirit, living by the Spirit, and keeping in step with the Spirit. It's pretty clear that we need the Spirit! How do you "walk with the Spirit?" When our minds are on the Lord, we are walking with the Spirit. Whether it's prayer, meditating on the Word, talking to a Christian friend, or listening to a good song, find a way to walk with the Spirit and you will find yourself overflowing with love.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Fruit of the Spirit (devotion)
When Sam was little, I would run a kids praise CD while he played in his room. The songs were scriptures set to music, and sung by children. One of my personal favorites was, "Without complaining, without arguing, do, do, everything." I worked that one to my benefit whenever it was time to clean up.
There was one song, however, that drilled its way into my head and never left. So much so that even now, almost a decade later, its dulcet tones will wind up in my mind and play in a seemingly endless loop. The scripture featured in that song is Gal 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit. As it pranced through my head once again the other day, I spent some time really thinking about each fruit as opposed to just letting the song roll as background music in my brain. As a result, I felt led to spend some time on that scripture in my blog. I'm not sure how long the series will take, but that's what I'm concentrating on now.
I'm sure we're all familiar with the passage, but I'll reiterate it here. (Imagine upbeat music and children's voices raised in song) The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I’ll start at the beginning. What do I know about fruit?
1) Fruit production takes time. I was a biology major and I can assure you that apples don't suddenly appear on the tree. There's a whole process that includes cool words like pollination and megaspore. Physical fruit has to grow and mature. So does spiritual fruit. You don't wake up one day as the most patient person on the planet. The fruit grows as you mature, and its growth continues over your entire spiritual life. So if you fail in one of those areas listed in Galatians, give yourself a break. You've embarked on a process that takes time, but will produce change in your life.
2) Fruit is seasonal. It grows during certain times of the year and not at others. While there is always a measure of each fruit in our lives, there are periods when we are afforded a greater quantity. How many times have you watched someone in the middle of tragedy exude peace and said, "I could never handle (insert crisis here) like they are." The reason for their seemingly unnatural response to trauma is that they've received seasonal fruit. They have what they need, when they need it. Don't worry about what ifs because when the time is right, you'll have the resources you require.
3) Fruit is for reproduction. It is a distribution vehicle created for the purpose of spreading seed. Likewise, the fruit of the Spirit manifested in our lives acts a witness to the lost, and edifies our sisters and brothers in Christ. Ask yourself, who does patience really help--me or the person to whom I'm extending it? Who is gentleness helping--me or someone else? While it may make our lives easier, the function of the fruit of the Spirit is ministry. If it's presence in your life doesn't affect others, there is a problem. Jesus said the entire law could be boiled down two things: loving God and loving our neighbors. Every tool in our walk needs to point to one or the other; the fruit of the Spirit is no different.
Take some time today to read Galatians 5:22-23. Try to look at it through fresh eyes, not just as a scripture you were taught in kindergarten. Think about what each word means as you do so. Sing it with me now! The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness. The fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
There was one song, however, that drilled its way into my head and never left. So much so that even now, almost a decade later, its dulcet tones will wind up in my mind and play in a seemingly endless loop. The scripture featured in that song is Gal 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit. As it pranced through my head once again the other day, I spent some time really thinking about each fruit as opposed to just letting the song roll as background music in my brain. As a result, I felt led to spend some time on that scripture in my blog. I'm not sure how long the series will take, but that's what I'm concentrating on now.
I'm sure we're all familiar with the passage, but I'll reiterate it here. (Imagine upbeat music and children's voices raised in song) The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I’ll start at the beginning. What do I know about fruit?
1) Fruit production takes time. I was a biology major and I can assure you that apples don't suddenly appear on the tree. There's a whole process that includes cool words like pollination and megaspore. Physical fruit has to grow and mature. So does spiritual fruit. You don't wake up one day as the most patient person on the planet. The fruit grows as you mature, and its growth continues over your entire spiritual life. So if you fail in one of those areas listed in Galatians, give yourself a break. You've embarked on a process that takes time, but will produce change in your life.
2) Fruit is seasonal. It grows during certain times of the year and not at others. While there is always a measure of each fruit in our lives, there are periods when we are afforded a greater quantity. How many times have you watched someone in the middle of tragedy exude peace and said, "I could never handle (insert crisis here) like they are." The reason for their seemingly unnatural response to trauma is that they've received seasonal fruit. They have what they need, when they need it. Don't worry about what ifs because when the time is right, you'll have the resources you require.
3) Fruit is for reproduction. It is a distribution vehicle created for the purpose of spreading seed. Likewise, the fruit of the Spirit manifested in our lives acts a witness to the lost, and edifies our sisters and brothers in Christ. Ask yourself, who does patience really help--me or the person to whom I'm extending it? Who is gentleness helping--me or someone else? While it may make our lives easier, the function of the fruit of the Spirit is ministry. If it's presence in your life doesn't affect others, there is a problem. Jesus said the entire law could be boiled down two things: loving God and loving our neighbors. Every tool in our walk needs to point to one or the other; the fruit of the Spirit is no different.
Take some time today to read Galatians 5:22-23. Try to look at it through fresh eyes, not just as a scripture you were taught in kindergarten. Think about what each word means as you do so. Sing it with me now! The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness. The fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Joy in Adversity (Psalm 16 Devotion)
I've been having a little trouble with my pregnancy. I've been to labor and delivery twice to regulate my blood pressure, and I've been going to the doctor weekly for over a month now. There they monitor not only me, but also Garner. The last three appointments, he's failed the initial non-stress test necessitating a special ultrasound called a biophysical profile (BPP). Thankfully, he's passed the BPP each time. At the moment all is well with both of us, but I'm worrying. When I check my blood pressure, I worry, "Is this the time it skyrockets and won't come down?" When I go in for appointments, I worry that this is the time Garner won't pass the BPP. For the last few days, I've been stressed, waiting for the other shoe to drop. As I was praying in the car this morning, God reminded me that peace is found in His word. It's a shame He had to remind me of that! I didn't go to any special scripture. I just picked up where I'd been reading. It happened to be Psalm 16.
In verse 9, David says "No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts His praises!" David was a man overcome with all kinds of troubles. Before he took the throne, he was hunted and forced into hiding. After becoming king, he dealt with wars, and a myriad of family issues among other things. So I pondered how he could be filled with joy and shout praises. Verse 9 begins with two important words, "No wonder." These words imply that something in the passage prior to verse 9 explains David's state of being.
I'm type A, and I love it when things are clearly defined. Psalm 16 could be an instruction manual for having joy and peace in adversity.
Step 1: Know the Lord. "I said to the Lord, 'You are my Master!'" (verse 2) You can't have true peace until you are submitted to the One who brings it.
Step 2: Hang out with the right people. "The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!" (verse 3) It's no secret that the company you keep affects your mood and behavior. Your momma taught you that when you were young! Seek out fellow believers for fellowship.
Step 3: Stop doing bad things. "I will not take part in their sacrifices or even speak the names of their gods." (verse 4) What activites fill the majority of your time? Do they turn your mind to godly thoughts or away?
Step 4: Be thankful. "The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!" (verse 6) Thank the Lord for all you have before asking for all the stuff you think you need.
Step 5: Spend time in prayer and in the Word. "I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me." (verse 7) This is the one that slammed me. Between the holidays and stressing out, I hadn't been in the Word, and most of my prayers had been about my problems. David says, "even at night." He wasn't saying, "I put in my fifteen minutes this morning, I'm good." Meditating on God's scripture was an all day event for him.
After all these things, he concludes in verse 9, "NO WONDER my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts His praises." I'm not surprised David was shouting either. Hopefully, I will doing the same thing over the next month while I wait for Garner to arrive.
Text is from New Living Translation.
In verse 9, David says "No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts His praises!" David was a man overcome with all kinds of troubles. Before he took the throne, he was hunted and forced into hiding. After becoming king, he dealt with wars, and a myriad of family issues among other things. So I pondered how he could be filled with joy and shout praises. Verse 9 begins with two important words, "No wonder." These words imply that something in the passage prior to verse 9 explains David's state of being.
I'm type A, and I love it when things are clearly defined. Psalm 16 could be an instruction manual for having joy and peace in adversity.
Step 1: Know the Lord. "I said to the Lord, 'You are my Master!'" (verse 2) You can't have true peace until you are submitted to the One who brings it.
Step 2: Hang out with the right people. "The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!" (verse 3) It's no secret that the company you keep affects your mood and behavior. Your momma taught you that when you were young! Seek out fellow believers for fellowship.
Step 3: Stop doing bad things. "I will not take part in their sacrifices or even speak the names of their gods." (verse 4) What activites fill the majority of your time? Do they turn your mind to godly thoughts or away?
Step 4: Be thankful. "The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!" (verse 6) Thank the Lord for all you have before asking for all the stuff you think you need.
Step 5: Spend time in prayer and in the Word. "I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me." (verse 7) This is the one that slammed me. Between the holidays and stressing out, I hadn't been in the Word, and most of my prayers had been about my problems. David says, "even at night." He wasn't saying, "I put in my fifteen minutes this morning, I'm good." Meditating on God's scripture was an all day event for him.
After all these things, he concludes in verse 9, "NO WONDER my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts His praises." I'm not surprised David was shouting either. Hopefully, I will doing the same thing over the next month while I wait for Garner to arrive.
Text is from New Living Translation.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Out of the Box (Christmas Short Story)
Derek sat as still as he could, which wasn’t very. His foot wiggled, his leg swayed, and his fingers drummed a rather rockin’ beat on the table. This didn’t mean he wasn’t paying attention as his fourth-grade Sunday school teacher assumed. He heard everything she was saying.
It was military mailing time. Their Sunday school class helped pack candies and other treats into boxes, sealed them with tape, and labeled them for shipping to soldiers overseas. “For this term’s mailing, I want you all to make a Christmas card for your soldier. Then we’ll put them in the boxes with the other things.”
Derek knew exactly what he would send. He jumped up and ran to gather his supplies: multiple colors of construction paper, glitter-glue, scissors, and stickers. One look at the size of the construction paper and he knew he had a problem. “Is there any bigger paper?” he asked his teacher.
“Bigger paper? We’re just making cards, Derek. You don’t need bigger paper.”
“But it’s not big enough for what I’m making.”
She smiled in that irritating way that all teachers did when he talked to them and said, “I’m sure that what you’re making is great, but today we’re only making cards. Please try to keep your mind on your soldier and making a nice card for him.”
“She’s a girl.”
“Well, making a nice card for her then.”
Derek slumped into his chair. He was thinking of her. He looked at the paper again. Tape, that’ll solve my problem, he thought. He got his tape and went back to work. He didn’t have enough green, but figured that adding red would still be okay because it was also a Christmas color.
His mind so focused on his project that he didn’t realize Tom was talking to him. “I said, what’s taking you so long Derek. I’ve been done forever.”
Derek didn’t even look up. “I’m almost done now.”
“That’s what you’re making! Why do you always have to be so weird Derek? Besides it doesn’t even look like one.”
Derek looked at his creation. It is stupid, he thought. Why did I do this? He grabbed another sheet of paper and started to draw. He’d barely added a crayon line when the teacher announced that it was time to put the boxes together.
“Can I have a little more time? I’m not done.”
“No, I’m sorry; I gave y’all extra time already. Just sign what you’ve got and come on.”Derek sighed, scrawled his name and a quick note across the bottom of his original work, and stuffed it into the box.
***
“I don’t know, Ann. I just can’t get into Christmas. I know that it’s all about Jesus and I’m certainly glad about that, but,” Donna paused, fumbling for the words, “you know, it’s supposed to be snowing. And my family has a big party to decorate the tree each year. Cookies, hot chocolate, everyone has their special ornaments that they hang. It just doesn’t feel like Christmas without a tree,” she lamented to her friend on the way to mail call.
She walked back to her tent with a white box under her arm. This was her third one this year and she always enjoyed getting them. Her cousin submitted Donna’s address to her church so Donna could receive care packages. She appreciated the gesture. The box reminded her that people at home did care. There were candies and sometimes homemade cookies. They even sent lotions and razors, priceless commodities out here.
She settled onto her bunk and put the box in her lap. She waited a bit, relishing the moment, then cut the packing tape. On top was a haphazardly folded stack of paper. She pulled it out, unfolded it.
In her hands, she held a cut-out construction paper Christmas tree. It hung like a cock-eyed accordion due to the folding. From star point to base, it was maybe three feet long. The tree part was an alternating green and red. Balls of various colors, cut out raggedly, and stickers of cartoon characters and animals simulated ornaments. Lines of glitter crisscrossed the tree like garland. “It’s kind of a Charlie Brown tree.” she muttered, “Beautiful.”
She noticed a note in childish writing at the bottom: “I bet you don’t have a tree out there, so I made you one. Derek.”
“Your heavenly father already knows all your needs,” she quoted softly, and cried as she hung it beside her bunk.
Scripture is Matthew 6:32 NLT
It was military mailing time. Their Sunday school class helped pack candies and other treats into boxes, sealed them with tape, and labeled them for shipping to soldiers overseas. “For this term’s mailing, I want you all to make a Christmas card for your soldier. Then we’ll put them in the boxes with the other things.”
Derek knew exactly what he would send. He jumped up and ran to gather his supplies: multiple colors of construction paper, glitter-glue, scissors, and stickers. One look at the size of the construction paper and he knew he had a problem. “Is there any bigger paper?” he asked his teacher.
“Bigger paper? We’re just making cards, Derek. You don’t need bigger paper.”
“But it’s not big enough for what I’m making.”
She smiled in that irritating way that all teachers did when he talked to them and said, “I’m sure that what you’re making is great, but today we’re only making cards. Please try to keep your mind on your soldier and making a nice card for him.”
“She’s a girl.”
“Well, making a nice card for her then.”
Derek slumped into his chair. He was thinking of her. He looked at the paper again. Tape, that’ll solve my problem, he thought. He got his tape and went back to work. He didn’t have enough green, but figured that adding red would still be okay because it was also a Christmas color.
His mind so focused on his project that he didn’t realize Tom was talking to him. “I said, what’s taking you so long Derek. I’ve been done forever.”
Derek didn’t even look up. “I’m almost done now.”
“That’s what you’re making! Why do you always have to be so weird Derek? Besides it doesn’t even look like one.”
Derek looked at his creation. It is stupid, he thought. Why did I do this? He grabbed another sheet of paper and started to draw. He’d barely added a crayon line when the teacher announced that it was time to put the boxes together.
“Can I have a little more time? I’m not done.”
“No, I’m sorry; I gave y’all extra time already. Just sign what you’ve got and come on.”Derek sighed, scrawled his name and a quick note across the bottom of his original work, and stuffed it into the box.
***
“I don’t know, Ann. I just can’t get into Christmas. I know that it’s all about Jesus and I’m certainly glad about that, but,” Donna paused, fumbling for the words, “you know, it’s supposed to be snowing. And my family has a big party to decorate the tree each year. Cookies, hot chocolate, everyone has their special ornaments that they hang. It just doesn’t feel like Christmas without a tree,” she lamented to her friend on the way to mail call.
She walked back to her tent with a white box under her arm. This was her third one this year and she always enjoyed getting them. Her cousin submitted Donna’s address to her church so Donna could receive care packages. She appreciated the gesture. The box reminded her that people at home did care. There were candies and sometimes homemade cookies. They even sent lotions and razors, priceless commodities out here.
She settled onto her bunk and put the box in her lap. She waited a bit, relishing the moment, then cut the packing tape. On top was a haphazardly folded stack of paper. She pulled it out, unfolded it.
In her hands, she held a cut-out construction paper Christmas tree. It hung like a cock-eyed accordion due to the folding. From star point to base, it was maybe three feet long. The tree part was an alternating green and red. Balls of various colors, cut out raggedly, and stickers of cartoon characters and animals simulated ornaments. Lines of glitter crisscrossed the tree like garland. “It’s kind of a Charlie Brown tree.” she muttered, “Beautiful.”
She noticed a note in childish writing at the bottom: “I bet you don’t have a tree out there, so I made you one. Derek.”
“Your heavenly father already knows all your needs,” she quoted softly, and cried as she hung it beside her bunk.
Scripture is Matthew 6:32 NLT
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Maddie Makes Cards (Christmas short story)
Maddie was ready. Before her on the table lay everything she needed to make the best Christmas cards ever. She would craft them, fill them with clever hand written messages, address them and actually mail them. This year she would not feel guilt as she received those cute cards with everyone’s family picture on the front. This year she would meet her friends, family, and, most importantly, her husband’s congregants with her head held high because she had fulfilled her Christmas obligations.
She’d started in October by confirming that all the addresses in her book were current. Good thing, too, Aunt Holly moved to Pittsburg three years ago and Maddie still had her listed in Orange Park. She’d congratulated herself on catching a possible faux pas that could have derailed her plans.
In November, she’d gone to an intensive weekend seminar on embossing and card making. Gary, her husband, was not overly thrilled with paying for a hotel so that Maddie could learn to make something they could buy at Wal-Mart for less than five bucks. He didn’t understand. A pastor’s wife had to meet certain expectations. This year everything would be perfect, to make up for all the years she had failed. When she returned home with six prototypes, he merely raised an eyebrow and said with his usual dry wit, “At that price, they should be edged in gold.”
It was December now, and she’d cleared her calendar for the entire day. She had eight hours to do nothing, but cut, glue, and write. She set the mood by lighting a cinnamon candle and putting some Christmas music in the CD player. After cranking up the tunes, she started to crop.
She proceeded with extreme care, making sure that everything was flawless. Ribbons were expertly tied and glued in place. After a couple hours her back was aching, but her stack was growing. There were cards of green, red, and blue adorned with trees, angels, and starbursts. She imagined people’s expressions as they opened these gems. She could hear them saying, “Wow, I had no idea Maddie was this talented. We should ask her send out the invitations for the annual bake sale.”
When she broke for lunch, she counted her cards and compared them against her list. She was horrified to find that although the day was half gone, she’d barely completed a quarter of the necessary work. “How can that be?” she moaned.
She immediately set back to work, ignoring her rumbling stomach. She also abandoned her notion of cleaning up as she went. Soon the table was littered with bits of paper, ribbon, and glitter. When the mess got in her way, she simply raked it off onto the floor. Her care in setting the embossing powder slipped, and she smudged more than one card. She grunted in frustration as she made replacements, resenting the wasted minutes.
She was deep in concentration when Brandi, her cat, wandered into the room. A dangling ribbon tempted the feline, and she perched on her haunches batting at the silver material. Maddie, horrified, yelled and swatted at the cat. As she did, Maddie hit the open vials of embossing powder with her arm and sent them flying. The black, gold, and silver dust covered the table, the floor, Maddie, and Brandi. Brandi, startled by the ruckus, ran away. Multi-colored paw prints snaked down the hallway.
Gary came home to find his dining room a Technicolor nightmare and his bride hysterical. “It’s all ruined,” she moaned.
He reached for a card and gently shook off the powder. “See, easily fixed.”
“They’re supposed to be perfect.”
“Historically speaking, Jesus is the only one who's managed to be perfect. 'It's the thought that counts,' is cliche for a reason. People will be blessed because you thought of them, not because your card looks perfect. Here, let’s see what we can salvage.”
They saved more than Maddie thought possible. With Gary’s help, she was able to get all the cards in the mail the next day. Despite all he said, she felt better knowing she had done it right this year.
When Christmas cards from their friends and congregants started arriving, she opened each with joy, unburdened from the guilt she’d known in seasons past. One afternoon, her mailbox was stuffed with cards. She pulled them out eagerly, only to recognize her own handwriting. Each one was stamped, “Return to sender. Insufficient Postage.”
She’d started in October by confirming that all the addresses in her book were current. Good thing, too, Aunt Holly moved to Pittsburg three years ago and Maddie still had her listed in Orange Park. She’d congratulated herself on catching a possible faux pas that could have derailed her plans.
In November, she’d gone to an intensive weekend seminar on embossing and card making. Gary, her husband, was not overly thrilled with paying for a hotel so that Maddie could learn to make something they could buy at Wal-Mart for less than five bucks. He didn’t understand. A pastor’s wife had to meet certain expectations. This year everything would be perfect, to make up for all the years she had failed. When she returned home with six prototypes, he merely raised an eyebrow and said with his usual dry wit, “At that price, they should be edged in gold.”
It was December now, and she’d cleared her calendar for the entire day. She had eight hours to do nothing, but cut, glue, and write. She set the mood by lighting a cinnamon candle and putting some Christmas music in the CD player. After cranking up the tunes, she started to crop.
She proceeded with extreme care, making sure that everything was flawless. Ribbons were expertly tied and glued in place. After a couple hours her back was aching, but her stack was growing. There were cards of green, red, and blue adorned with trees, angels, and starbursts. She imagined people’s expressions as they opened these gems. She could hear them saying, “Wow, I had no idea Maddie was this talented. We should ask her send out the invitations for the annual bake sale.”
When she broke for lunch, she counted her cards and compared them against her list. She was horrified to find that although the day was half gone, she’d barely completed a quarter of the necessary work. “How can that be?” she moaned.
She immediately set back to work, ignoring her rumbling stomach. She also abandoned her notion of cleaning up as she went. Soon the table was littered with bits of paper, ribbon, and glitter. When the mess got in her way, she simply raked it off onto the floor. Her care in setting the embossing powder slipped, and she smudged more than one card. She grunted in frustration as she made replacements, resenting the wasted minutes.
She was deep in concentration when Brandi, her cat, wandered into the room. A dangling ribbon tempted the feline, and she perched on her haunches batting at the silver material. Maddie, horrified, yelled and swatted at the cat. As she did, Maddie hit the open vials of embossing powder with her arm and sent them flying. The black, gold, and silver dust covered the table, the floor, Maddie, and Brandi. Brandi, startled by the ruckus, ran away. Multi-colored paw prints snaked down the hallway.
Gary came home to find his dining room a Technicolor nightmare and his bride hysterical. “It’s all ruined,” she moaned.
He reached for a card and gently shook off the powder. “See, easily fixed.”
“They’re supposed to be perfect.”
“Historically speaking, Jesus is the only one who's managed to be perfect. 'It's the thought that counts,' is cliche for a reason. People will be blessed because you thought of them, not because your card looks perfect. Here, let’s see what we can salvage.”
They saved more than Maddie thought possible. With Gary’s help, she was able to get all the cards in the mail the next day. Despite all he said, she felt better knowing she had done it right this year.
When Christmas cards from their friends and congregants started arriving, she opened each with joy, unburdened from the guilt she’d known in seasons past. One afternoon, her mailbox was stuffed with cards. She pulled them out eagerly, only to recognize her own handwriting. Each one was stamped, “Return to sender. Insufficient Postage.”
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